Disney claims its first use of an 802.11 wireless network to operate an amusement park rides is a hit.

Until now, Disney was worried about the reliability of wireless networks for controlling its rides.

"You put 100 people on a wireless network, and it's not going to work predictably," Noonan says. "We had to make it very predictable. We had to guarantee we could handle updates in a 60th of a second…Our network is based on 802.11 technology, but it's the kind of network you'd find in a factory versus a home or office."

"We've had a lot of interest from various engineering teams from both parks," Noonan says. "We have a new attraction coming in Anaheim that's going to use the same network technology."

The success of Toy Story Mania! not only points to the future use of wireless networks in Disney resorts, but it also takes the integration between physical rides and special effects to a whole new level.

"We always integrate the ride and the show to some degree and get the guests involved as much as possible," Noonan says. "If anything, this ride taught us how powerful it can be if you do it really well."

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